Little Moments That Became A Fic

Chapter 7: Self Fulfilling Prophecy: Origin Of The Mad Rose

Madeline Rose was a cute, plump little woman. She had chestnut curls, large eyes, and a kind laugh; a bright, happy thing, to match her home city of Metropolis.

Another noteworthy thing about her was that she was a master of the art of origami. Her cubicle was filled with her magnificent creations, delighting and astounding her coworkers.

Yes, her life was one of cheerfulness and popularity — until she transferred to Gotham.

Later, her new coworkers would swear they did their best to stay on her good side, to not make her angry. In truth, they gave her awkward smiles and did their very best to avoid the Mad Rose, a nickname they thought she didn't overhear.

Madeline didn't know what she was doing wrong, she was at her absolute friendliest. She baked cookies for the office, with paper cranes to serve them on. She brought everyone presents on holidays or birthdays, with paper tigers or bears instead of bows. She always, always turned her paperwork in on time, with smiling paper fish paperclipped on.

But the more she did, the farther people got from her. She heard the whispers, year after year.

Villain...

Psycho...

She belongs with the rest of the freaks...

Shhhh, what if she hears you? I don't have life insurance...

Why? What did she ever do to deserve this?

She just wanted people to like her again. Just wanted to not be alone. Just wanted... Peace. Madeline, poor Maddie Rose, decided to give the whole office a gift.

She worked for weeks, missing perhaps too much sleep, but it was perfect; hundreds of origami bats, the symbol of peace for Gotham, that could actually fly! She let them loose in front of the office, expecting delight at what she had worked so long on, a special present just for the office–

"I knew it!"

"Greg, don't–"

But Greg didn't listen to his kinder (or perhaps just more cowardly) coworker's plea. "Look at her! I told you, the origami obsession was a clue all along! Now bats? Just like Edward, she's obsessed with Batman!"

"W-what? I'm not–" but Maddie's protests would go unheard.

"Villain!"

Villain, villain, villain...

Madeline Rose walked out of the office, clutching a box of her things, not believing a single thing that had happen.

Shunned by her coworkers...

Overlooked by her bosses...

Now fired from her job...

Over origami?!!!

All these years, all her suffering was because she was good at folding paper. She wouldn't, couldn't accept that. They just didn't see what origami could do, they didn't understand... Not yet, anyways.

She'd help them understand. She'd make them understand. Then they'd all like her again. They had to. She had to get them to.

Even if she had to become exactly what they expected to do it.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Batman looked at the wreck around him. Cowering employees, broken rubble, torn up paper robots. The origami themed villain, The Heron, sat ranting in the backseat of the Batmobile.

"Do you see it now?! Do you like me now?! They'll all like me now, they have to, I'm exactly what they wanted!" She cackled. "Do you hear that, Batbrains?! I'M EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED! They have to like me now..."

"We should've seen it sooner." An employee shook his head sadly. "She was obsessed, a loner, then she got fired... We should've known."

"There was no way you could have," Batman comforted him.

"Yeah, I just..." The employee sighed. "I wish there was something we could've done to help, you know?"

"Don't worry." Batman turned to his car. "She'll get plenty of help in Arkham."

And as Batman drove towards the asylum, his heart ached for the raving lunatic in his backseat. Madeline Rose had such a promising career, once upon a time, and he hoped she'd be able to get back on her feet with the proper care.

The Mad Rose, The Heron... Madeline's story is a sad one, but it's not over...

And it's not unique.